Chapter 4

In a well-guarded government facility, with over 20 armed guards as well as state of the art security systems, two 'Doctors' could not stop smiling. Excited could begin to describe the bliss coursing through them.

Their latest tests confirmed that their pet monster would be everything they wanted and more. With psychic potential like 11A possessed made fighting the hero's heavy hitters not just possible but make winning a reality. People with powers needed to be controlled. The older doctor could almost feel his scarred eye twitch, at the thought of those freaks being anything other than subservient to the real 'normal' people.

Still, the idea of finally knocking those 'superheroes' off of there high perch was only part of their current elation; they had just finished moving the unconscious 11A into its playroom. Playroom in the sense that this was where she was played with. After all, they couldn't let 11A be so openly aggressive to them, could they? No. There would be no repeat performance of what happened back in the test chamber; the little monster would either follow their instructions willingly or be 'educated' until she learned her lesson.

The doctors did so love teaching.

Flanked by two guards wielding cattle prods, they entered the treatment room. It was a spacious room that held no furniture, it's small solitary window bared. Inside, on the floor, resting peacefully was their little mutant. The doctor's stayed by the door, feeling safer by the exit. Each guard took their place either side of the sleeping abomination with, their cattle prods in hand humming in anticipation.

Time to begin the learning process.

Sector 12's proximity to Gotham had been a boon for many years. They were able to catch a few crazies and cart them off here before they were known to the public eye. It's position, just off the beaten track in the ass end of nowhere, meant they didn't have to worry about people bodily watching their facility from other buildings. The facility being small meant it was a low priority to attack or look into compared to the other off the books agencies. Because of this, they had in fact never been attacked or infiltrated before.

All these advantages were working against them tonight.

Sector 12's closeness to Gotham meant Batman got there in record time. It's position as a solitary facility meant he didn't have to move slowly when approaching it; he only had to worry about people within the facility seeing him. The facilities' guards being untested meant they never had to adapt their defenses before. Meaning, they still used standard patrols, check-in times, guard rotations, etc.

It was a fine system, and the guards were well trained, but when you're up against the Batman, it just won't do. You need something over the top, unique, or just plain weird.

Batman stalked two guards on the walls of the compound. Patiently waiting for them to check in. A moment after they did he pounced. Taken by surprise, they stood no chance as Batman knocked out one with a clear punch to the temple, immediately putting the other in a sleeper hold.

Swiftly dragging their bodies out of view he mentally planned. He had 10-15 minutes before the next scheduled check-in as per standard protocol. For someone who didn't know the facility layout, this may not have been enough time, but Batman had memorized the compound schematics as he made his way over. Even if he forgot, Alfred could remind him from the Batcomputer.

He knew where all the cameras were. Batman could guess where the patrols were likely to be. First things first, he made his approach to the security office. Taking down another couple of guards on the way, the dark knight moved with purpose. After all, if he could neutralize the security office, the guards would probably take longer to realize there was no check in, buying him more time.

Convulsing with electricity, Ace was dragged from her dreams once again. As her collar switched off, she grimaced f on the pain radiating through her body and looked up to see her torturers. The Cold-hearted Bitch was the first to speak in a tone reserved for their 'therapy' sessions, or Ace imagined, just after she had an amazing or-

"11A we're so proud of you!" if the predator's grin got any large her face might just split in two. That would be nice. "Think how happy we were 11A, when it turns out, the pathetic little monster I was helping out of the goodness of my own heart had such a useful amount of power!"

Walking forward to Ace, who was still on the floor leaning on her elbows as she sat up. Cold bitch took the young girls chin in her hand, forcing her to look into the doctor's eyes as she spoke. "But there is a small problem kitten. You went and tried to use that little gift of yours to hurt us… your generous caretakers who just want to let you safe. You can't use your powers very well at the moment. We only want what's best for you. So to make sure you learn your lesson Mr. Rachter", Tweedle Dee, "and Mr. Humid", Tweedle Dumb, "are going to use the sparky stick to make sure you remember!"

Ace glanced at the aforementioned guards before starting back at the female physician. She then did precisely what no one, except for her, expected her to do.

She smiled.

It was the same dangerous smile Ace wore when she used her powers earlier. The doctor actually flinched back, retreating to Scarface's side, expecting Ace's collar to activate to stop some kind of telepathic attack. With the rest of the room was stunned as they heard the little monster speak for the first time in 5 long years.

"Today I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

It was not the broken English of an undereducated 7-year-old they expected. It was not the trembling, scared, nervous tone they desired. It was a promise, spoken clearly in a quiet, hoarse voice. Honest anger shone in her eyes, as she stared at the doctors. They could see that she meant it. The hesitant silence was broken by Scarface as his face morphed into a visage of pure anger and his voice boomed through the room.

"GUARDS!" Shocked from their stupor, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb thrust forward their cattle prods, striking Ace in the sides. As her smile broke and a pained scream Scarface spoke on with a distinct seething quality.

"You freaks get a speck of power and think your superior to all of us, don't you? Just because you have a little power monster, you think you can now do whatever you want? We're in charge. Sleeping, eating, washing, those are privileges we grant you 11A. Since you can apparently talk now, I think our first lesson will be how to talk to your betters. So every time we let you catch your breath, you will have the opportunity to kneel before us and say 'Thank you, masters, for looking after me. I'm sorry for being a pathetic monster'. If you don't say those exact words, I'm sure my two friends here would be willing to give you another shock. We're going to keep going 11A, all day and night until you choose to stop it."

Approaching the subject he gave her a chance. A chance to submit.

Ace was composing herself, building up her mental walls while Scarface monologues on and on. What was it with villains and long-winded speeches? Who was he trying to impress, her? Well, it wasn't working, it was just giving her time to prepare herself to weather this. He should have gone for something shorter; submit or suffer never gets old.

Ace only had to hold out for a short while, after all, Batman was on his way. If she remembered correctly, Gotham wasn't too far away, and he would have come promptly after receiving her message. Ace had no idea how long she was unconscious, but it couldn't have been too long as Batman hadn't arrived yet. All Ace had to do was wait, when Batman came to save her he'd fight the guards; meanwhile, she might finally get a minute to show the dear doctors how she feels.

Scarface was winding down now, coming towards Ace to let her grovel. Fat Chance. Spreading the same predatory grin, she braced herself for the pain.

Not long now…

Leonard was feeling stressed. Perhaps this was due to the new change in his work environment; he never had quite liked change. As the head of security for sector 12, Leonard much preferred a daily routine: check inventories, supervise patrols, organize which guards are giving 11A's scheduled beatings. Then get paid, go home and wasted the money on some brunette.

What interrupted this well-oiled clockwork? The Doc's in charge finally decided to teach the little tyke. Now don't get Leonard wrong, he understood that the whole point of the facility was to train monsters. It's why he never particularly felt bad treating the child in their care as a distinctly interesting light bulb. That and he didn't think about it. Probably why he got such a well paying job; Leonard didn't think beyond his station. Annoyingly though, he had to change everything now the midget was being trained.

When that collar switched off, he had to watch the cameras like a hawk. At any sign of trouble he would reactivate the collar remotely, a group of guards had to be taken off patrol and be outfitted in anti telepathy gear; if that kid broke her collar, they needed to be ready. All in all, it was a lot of hassle, but definitely worth it. He nearly pissed himself when the little monster put out power readings higher than the machines could record.

Thankfully, for now, it was back to the usual routine. Glancing up at the 'playroom' screen Leonard saw that they were back to breaking in 11A. That meant no need for extra guards or heightened security. Judging by how much they're hurting the little mutant he might get another couple of weeks before being back on high alert.

He was no sadist but definitely didn't care enough about his colleagues work ethics not to have a smile grow, thinking of the return to generally relaxed work. Hell, if it meant not having a heart attack everytime someone on a camera flinched, he wou-

THUD

Batman felt no pity knocking out the pervertedly grinning guard captain. Anyone who could be that giddy as someone was being tortured deserves to rot in Arkham, but first things first, he glanced at the various screens in the control room. The caped crusader felt genuine disgust watching the sick bastards torturing a little girl. Discerning quickly where he had to go, Batman plugged in a computer probe as he hastily left the room. The probe would copy then delete all files on their system; there was no way they were going to keep the fruits of their disgusting labor.

Doctor Eira, also know as cold bitch in Ace's head had to admit that she was starting to have a small, minuscule, tiny amount of respect for 11A. It had been hours, yet still, when they stop shocking the little monstrosity, she kept regrowing that maniacal smile. Hell, they had to start using the collar because they were worried that the cattle prods would run low, but that's what you get when you don't get high-quality equipment. At least it would much damage to the patient. High voltage, low current; that was the key to any decent motivational device. Minimum damage with maximum 'incentive'.

Any respect the prisoner may have earned was tempered by a growing foreboding feeling. 11A had been… well, not a model subject but never showed this much resistance. In fact, now that the good doctor thought about it 11A didn't even struggle this much when they first got her; she just seemed to accept her new role. They never struggled to make progress, except in trying to get her to speak. Annoyingly she never managed to get the little tyke to talk despite all her efforts, in the end, 11A was presumed mute, yet now it was proven that mutant could speak. A full sentence no less!

It was almost like the pest was biding her time…. But that didn't make sense. 11A was just a 2-year-old, filthy freak when they got her. What kind of 2 year old could make a long term plan? What would the plan even be? Act subservient while to gain there trust? So they would start training her powers? So they would stop suppressing her powers. So they would turn her collar off.

…

There was that growing sense of dread again; something was wrong. No, 11A's use of powers did nothing, the little monster failed, but she was still smiling. What would a child even try to do with her powers? Shaking her head, the doctor wanted to free herself of these thoughts, the mutant was likely just being delusional.

Doctor Eira glanced at her superior, now there was a man in control. He's started using activating 11A's collar personally while taunting her. Exact words weren't important, the key was that the captive knew that it was her fault. If only she hadn't been born a disgusting mutant. If she gave in, acted respectfully to her natural betters.

Watching the older doctor at work did things to Doctor Eira she wouldn't soon admit to anyone. She was a professional after all. But witnessing him break their pet soon to be weapon, that was just ho-

The door ruptured apart, exploding outwards as none other than the caped crusader leaped through the entryway. Being closest to the door Doctor Eira was knocked down by the blast, quickly being joined by her superior as he was punched down by the dark knight. As the guards rushed at Batman, cattle prods to earn their paychecks, he threw a Batarang at 11A's collar disabling it.

While their guards thought Batman the doctors on the floor gather their bearings, as they both look up their blood runs cold. Staring straight at them, through them, was their monster. Finally, Doctor Eira understood that terrible smile. The mutant had succeeded; she had done what any child who wanted to be saved would have done.

She called for her hero.

It didn't make sense, Batman had only just started crime fighting when 11A was taken and they sure as hell never mentioned him in the facility. How had she known to call him? How did 11A even know who he was? But that smile proved she knew, it showed that 11A had been biding her time, it proved that everything had gone according to plan.

Ace could never remember being as happy as she realized Batman broke the door down. The exact moment it happened she was being electrocuted so could be forgiven for not noticing his entrance, but the moment her collar was forcefully deactivated she never felt more alive. When her torturers met her eyes, it was pure elation to see the fear on their faces. If the smile on her face got any bigger it would start hurting, it kind of did already, straining hardly used muscles to their limit.

Glancing quickly behind her personal architects of suffering to her savior Ace saw she had about a short amount of time before Batman overpowered the guards.

Perfect.

What Ace was about to do was only possible because she knew the minds of her captures so well. Literally, she had studied them, looking from the outside using the bare minimum of her power so as not to activate the collar. It took years, patients and willpower but luckily she had all 3. Never being able to act out her every fantasy was finally worth it; Ace knew their minds so well that she could run go through them like wrecking ball.

O but she didn't break their minds through force. They deserved so much worse, they made her endure for years, they deserved to suffer for years. It was only fair. Ace had thought long and hard about their punishment before settling on this. She gathered up every torturess memory of the past 5 years, every cataloged gallery of pain in her mental fortress compressing them all into neat packages. Once they were all gathered Ace made her physicians live through every single moment. All the shocks, all the beatings, all sleep deprivation.

All in 5 seconds.

By compressing years into seconds, each event was magnified. The intensity of every shock exemplified, and all of it would be felt in agony now but remembered and digested for years to come. The full pain would radiate through their lives in every waking moment. Ah, but she wasn't done yet; Ace promised them a minute. So, again and again, she forced them to live through her compressed hell. By the end of the minute, they were a wreck, and she was exhausted.

Ace's arms were like lead, her eyelids feel heavy, and she had a headache like a marching band was going through her brain. Totally worth it. Starting a little she looked up as Batman picked up a cradled her, Ace was rather small for her again thus was easy to carry. After all this time she finally felt something she hadn't felt in this world before. Ace felt safe.

Her eyes slowly closed as sleep rushed to claim her. Before the soft darkness took her, she sent a simple short message to her hero. Filled with contentment, joy, and sincerity, it spoke quietly through his mind. As if the metal communication was whispered in his ear, which Ace may have done if she had the energy.

Thank you

Batman carried the child out of the facility, retrieving his probe as he went. Later the police would get an anonymous tip with the relevant filtered information on the unlisted government facility and their code of conduct. The guards would be sent to various prisons while the Doctors ended up in Arkham, barely able to go a night without screaming, asking for the shocks to stop.

The dark knight would spend his time going through the pilfered information while Alfred tended to his new guest. She couldn't be taken to a hospital. If any information from Sector 12 was shared with other government agencies, there might be people looking for her. Alfred was well practiced in medical care by now, ever since Bruce started fighting crime the old butler had brushed up and expanded his medical repertoire. Not to mention the impressive array of medical equipment now housed in the cave, the child was good hands.

Currently, Batman was considering how best to deal with the abused 7-year-old. Her public records had been expunged, there was no telling what mental damage had been done over 5 years, and continued use of electric shocks had caused damage that Alfred was currently finding the full extent of. Rubbing his eyes, he reflected on whether or not to call some members of the league.

Batman wasn't exactly a people person, while he could try to connect with the orphaned child, contacting Diana or J'onn was a good backup plan. The former had experience caring for the young girls of Themyscira whilst the latter was a telepath like his guest. Yet again he was glad that the league was founded a year ago, it would be much harder to plan ahead if he didn't personally know the other heroes.

Still, first things first, he'll have to wait and see what his new charge wants when she wakes up.